NWFP govt to honour Swat peace deal

PESHAWAR: Though peace agreements between the government and militants are not ideal they are positive and should be honoured, NWFP Environment Minister, who is also a key member of peace talks committee, Wajid Ali Khan said on Monday.

“The NWFP government is trying its best to honour peace agreements with Swat militants. If these agreements were scrapped there would again be war between security forces and militants.”

Khan was speaking at a Â“Peace Accords – Expectations and Reservations” Women Workers’ Helpline meeting. Khan said militants had been stopped from bombing CD and barbers’ shops and girls’ schools, and carrying out suicide bombings. The Aurat Foundation’s Tariq Khan said however such attacks were ongoing.

The NWFP minister said peaceful militant campaigns for Shariah law were their right, and neither un-Islamic, adding the provincial government is optimistic about talks in Swat and Dir. Provincial labour unions secretary-general Farman Ali echoed this, saying the government should honour genuine demands.
Source: Daily Times
Date:6/24/2008